Container with utensil pocket

ABSTRACT

A serving container includes a pocket for holding one or more utensils. The pocket can be inside or outside the container. The pocket is formed by a detachably mounted pocket piece that can also include a secondary securing means such as a magnet. The pocket is attached so that the handle of the utensil remains easily accessible to the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation-in-part of provisional applicationNo. 60/714,767, filed Sep. 8, 2005. This invention relates to foodcontainers that are used in conjunction with a serving utensil,including containers such as salad bowls, platters and dishes forserving meats, vegetables, soups, desserts, condiments and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individuals and the food industry have always sought ways to efficientlyserve food without contamination of the food, the container, or anyassociated serving utensils. Contamination problems can arise whenserving utensils are separated from their container. For example, aserving spoon or fork can lay on a dirty surface where the containerrests. Another undesirable situation can occur if a serving utensil ishandled by someone with, say, a cold or the flu, after which the utensilfalls into the container and contaminates the contents of the containerwith a virus that can spread to others who eat or come in contact withthe contents of the container. In other instances, it is desirable tokeep the serving utensils separate from the food, to prevent food fromgetting on the handle of the serving utensil, making it difficult ormessy to grip. Another reason to keep serving utensils separate from thefood is to prevent the taste of food in one container from being alteredby being mixed with the taste of food in another container, should theserving utensils be switched between the containers. It is alsodesirable to keep the utensil or utensils as part of serving arrangementthat includes the serving container.

Various combinations of containers and serving utensils can be seen inthe prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 269,054 to Hemsteger depicts aspoon holder for a cooking vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,863 to Bettsdepicts a combination of a disposable receptacle and spoon for icecream. Nevertheless, it is desirable to have a serving container with aseparate pocket or compartment for one or more serving utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes a container for use with one or more servingutensils, such as forks or spoons. The utensils have a serving portionand a handle. A serving container has a utensil pocket on the containerportion for holding the serving portion of the utensil. At the sametime, the arrangement of the pocket and the container hold the utensilso that easy access to the utensil handle is maintained. In such amanner, the container can continually be used for serving.

Other features of the invention include a detachably mounted pocketpiece that makes the use of the pocket and the container optional. Thepocket piece can also have secondary means to further secure the utensilinside the pocket. Such a means could include a magnet, a latch, a hook,or other types of mechanical fasteners. The pocket piece can also beconfigured so that it forms a pocket inside or outside the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a serving container with a utensilpocket on the inside of the container.

FIG. 2 is a portion of the perspective view of FIG. 1 depicting how thepocket can be formed by a removable pocket piece.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the pocket and container in FIGS. 1 and 2,showing a utensil in the pocket.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate tray or dish-likeembodiment of the container in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of yet another embodiment in which the utensilpocket is outside of the container.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the removable pocket piecedepicted in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention includes several embodiments, some of which areillustrated by the preceding drawings. FIG. 1 depicts a servingcontainer 10, such as a salad bowl. The container 10 includes aninterior surface 20 that defines a food containing portion of thecontainer 10. A pocket piece 30 defines a pocket or compartment 25. Thepocket piece 30 can be detachably mounted to the inside or the outsideof the container, although the present invention also contemplates apermanent pocket as well. FIG. 2 depicts a pocket piece 30 with clips 37that snap into openings 35 to secure the pocket piece to the interior ofthe container 10.

FIG. 3 shows a spoon 55 with handle 50 resting inside pocket 25. Thepocket can be sized for one more utensils. In another embodiment, twopockets (not shown) could be disposed inside or outside of thecontainer. Such a configuration would be helpful when the container isused as a salad bowl, in which two large utensils may be usedsimultaneously for serving purposes. It is intended that the utensilpocket be placed in relation to the container so that the servingportion of the utensil is held by the pocket, as depicted in FIG. 3,where pocket 25 holds spoon 55 while the spoon handle 50 is easilyaccessible. It is not intended that the pocket have a specificproportional relationship to the utensil, the utensil's handle, or theutensil's serving portion. It is, however, desired that the utensilhandle be easily accessible for continued use of the serving container.

Magnet 40 can assist in securing a ferromagnetic utensil inside thepocket 25. Other types of securing devices can also be used, such asclips and slots (not shown) that mechanically secure the utensil insidethe pocket. Such securing arrangements would preferably be placed on thepocket piece 40, but could also be disposed on the interior surface 20of container 10 or on the tope edge 15. Another way of securing theutensil inside the pocket 25 is to match the utensil and pocket sizeslike a matched set, in which the utensil and container would be sold asa pair. The pocket would be shaped and sized to mechanically secure theserving part of the utensil in the pocket. The precise shape, size, andlocation of the pocket or pockets can be determined by one of ordinaryskill to accommodate the desired shape and size of the container and theutensils.

FIG. 4 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention, in which theserving container 110 is in the shape of a pan or serving platter withraised sides 120. The pocket piece 130, which forms utensil pocket orcompartment 125, can be permanently or detachably mounted to thecontainer 110. A magnet or other utensil securing device 140 is alsoshown.

FIG. 5 depicts yet another embodiment of the invention. A container orbowl 210 includes a pocket 225 disposed on the outside of the container210. In FIG. 5, the pocket piece 230 is depicted as a permanent part ofthe entire container 210. As noted earlier, however, other embodimentscan include a detachably mounted pocket piece (or pieces).

FIG. 6 depicts the container 10 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, however, thepocket piece 330 is configured differently from that of FIG. 1. Inparticular, a pair of wire hooks 335 are attached to the top of pocketpiece 330 and hook over the top of container 10.

Other possible embodiments of the present invention will be understoodby those of skill in the art. For example, it is contemplated that thepocket pieces in FIGS. 3 and 6 form pockets that are open on the bottom.Referring specifically to FIG. 3, any drippings or loose food in spoon55 could fall through the bottom opening 27 of pocket 25 and into thecontainer 10. Alternatively, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottoms of pockets125 and 225 respectively are intended to be closed. Likewise, those ofskill in the art will appreciate that there are a variety of ways todetachably mount the pocket piece to the container. Therefore, it willbe understood by those of skill in the art that changes may be made tothe present invention, and that changes in its use may also be made,without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined inthe following claims.

1. A container for use with one or more serving utensils, the utensilshaving a serving portion and a handle, comprising: a container portion;and a utensil pocket on the container portion for holding primarily theserving portion of the utensil.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein thepocket is formed by a pocket piece detachably mountable to the containerportion.
 3. The container of claim 2, including the limitations of claim1, further comprising secondary means for securing the utensil in thepocket.
 4. The container of claim 3, including the limitations of claims1 and 2, wherein the secondary securing means includes a magnet.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 3, including the limitations of claims 1 and 2,wherein the secondary securing means is one of a hook, a latch, and anotch.
 6. The container of claim 2, including the limitations of claim1, further comprising a second utensil pocket on the container portionfor holding primarily the serving portion of a second utensil.
 7. Thecontainer of claim 6, including the limitations of claims I and 2,wherein the second utensil pocket is formed by a detachably mountedpocket piece.
 8. In a food serving container for which at least oneserving utensil is required, the container having an interior,food-holding portion and exterior portion, and the utensil having aserving portion and a handle, the improvement comprising: a utensilpocket on the container portion for holding the serving portion of theutensil so that the utensil handle is accessible for continued use ofthe serving container.
 9. The pocket of claim 8, wherein the utensilpocket includes a pocket piece detachably mounted to the container. 10.The pocket of claim 9, including the limitations of claim 8, wherein thepocket piece is mounted to the outside of the container.
 11. The pocketof claim 9, including the limitations of claim 8, wherein the pocketpiece further comprises an upper and a lower opening.